Spring Festival Boosts China’s Tourism: Inbound and Outbound Travel Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels

By Aarav Shen, Beijingtimes, Feb 20: During the Spring Festival holiday of 2024, China’s tourism sector witnessed a significant surge, with approximately 13.52 million people traveling into and out of the country over the eight-day period.

 This marked a substantial increase in tourism activity, showcasing a vibrant rebound in both inbound and outbound travel.

The National Immigration Administration reported that daily crossings at border customs averaged 1.69 million people during the holiday, showing a remarkable 2.8-fold increase from the figures recorded in 2023. This resurgence brought the total number of entry and exit crossings close to 90 percent of what was observed in 2019, prior to the global disruptions caused by the pandemic.

A record-setting day was noted on February 12, with border customs processing 1.857 million travelers, highlighting the busiest day for international travel during the holiday period.

The land ports connecting Guangdong with Hong Kong and Macao were particularly busy, handling 73.1 percent of all travel into and out of China, illustrating the significant role these regions play in facilitating cross-border movement.

Air travel also experienced a notable uptick in activity, with Shanghai Pudong International Airport managing an average daily flow of 88,000 passengers, indicative of the heightened demand for air travel during the festival period.

This year’s Spring Festival underscored the holiday’s importance as a peak time for international tourism, with travelers once again embracing the opportunity to explore destinations beyond China’s borders.

Destinations popular with Chinese tourists, such as Dubai, Milan, and Singapore, pulled out all the stops to welcome visitors from China. They organized special attractions like drone shows and events celebrating Chinese festival traditions, aiming to capture the interest of Chinese travelers and enhance their holiday experiences.